Beacon and air current indicator



Oct. 9, 1934.

jo. WERNER BEACON AND AIR CURRENT INDICATOR Original Filed Nov. 30, 192

20 shall be simple, rugged, easily erected and relae i shaft 5 to turn freely :thereon and-rests on 'suit-4 Patented Oct. 9, 1934 PAT-ENT oFFicE A i 1,976,706 BEACON AND AIR CURRENTINDIGATOR OSarJWerner, South Bend, 1nd-, assigner, by mesne assignments, to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing*,Company,East Pittsburgh, Y ya., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application-November 36,1926, Serial No. 151,770. Divided-'fand this .application March- 5, 1930, Serial-Ni433A88..

My invention relates to lightingxtures and has particular reference to lighting devices forl airports and the like.

This is a division of application- Serial No.`

10 vicinity of the beacon to an observer; by means of interruption of the beam. i i i vAmong the objects of Amy invention istoprovide `means for indicating to an observer, while he is some `distance away, the position of the l field, or other ob-jectintended to be .designated by the beaconand the directionjand velocity thewind at the eld or other object. v i

.A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the aboveindicated character which tively low in cost and maintenance. i

It is common practicein air-portlighting to employ a rotating beacon to designate the loca-- tion of the landing field,or any other object in 2.5 order that an observer Amayorientate himself. The v,beacon is essentially a powerful searchlight or lprojector rotatably mounted in suchmanner that the beam Will be projectedat a few degrees above` the horizontal. The projector maybe 3Q rotated, bymechanical means, in' a hogITZOntal plane lat a slow, uniform speed, so .that the beam willsweep the horizon and its light will vstrike an observers eyes. y By this means, the observer is enabled to ascertain the location of thelanding 43.5 field or other object. -It is at times desirable that the observer, such as an, aviator, shouldknowthe direction of the wind current yin the immediate vicinity of the eld in order that hemay .make his landing against the Wind. v l The Wind direction is-usuallyindicated by a cloth bag, arranged to swing freely with the Wind,- and the bag may be illuminated by the lightl from a number of lamps, reflected from above. Such A an air-current indicator is rather Vindistinct and garding the location of the field, but Yalso the directionand velocity .of the the` vicinity of the iield. The device is simple andV rugged and allows the combination of rotating beacon and air-current indicator in one unit.

My invention may best bie-'understood by reference to the accompanying drawing,in which Figjl is a View, in front elevation, showing a modification of my device f Fig.' 2 is a view in side elevation of the device shownA in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isan enlarged View partlyiin elevation and partly- 'in lsection of a braking mechanism utilized as a part of `my device'as shownfin Fig. 2; Fign4 is an end view'of braking device` shown in Fig. '3, and i Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the taken online V-V of Fig-2.

' Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 5, my device .comprises a base member or plate 1` suitably anchored on a foundation 2. l The base plateis provided with suitable threaded openingsfor anchoring a casing 3 `thereto by means of bolts 4.v h

To the base is xed a stationaryv shaft or 'post 5. 'A hollow shaft or sleeve 6 isloos'ely fitted on motor drive afb-1e bearings' 10 in the `ibase plate. i-A worm- Wheel 7, slipv rings 81and :9,-and the projectorsupei port -11 are rigidly mounted on the-sleevei; near the base thereof L 'Ihe casing 3 encloses the driving and'com-mutating members and its top-'wall is provided with a. flangedopening 12, which is adapted to be closed by means of lthe sleeve member-6 and a cap 13.` 1

The projector 14 is mountedonan upright 15, Which-is Y"a y part'` of Ithe supporting member 11. Abracket 16M is fixed to the projector-l and is shaped-to. loosely receive the'upright 15. 'Bolts l'landf18l clamp thebracket on the upright.- The opening for 'bolt 18 is slotted, as shown at 180g, to permit a lsmall vertical adjustment of the pro*- ject-or 14. j n f j, T In order to minimize friction, .a suitable -weight 21 constitutes a part of the projector support 11 and counterbialances Athe weight of the projector 14.` Electricalconnection is made'with a light sou-roe in 4the 'projectorby means of a cable 22, one leadof which is fastened to the slip ring 8 andthe other Yto the Yslipring 9, through an opening 20 in slip ring 9.- '-'15 The lprojector positively -actuated,-inits rotation'around the axis of shaft5, byV a motor 29 which is located within the'casing -3 for 'driving the Worm gear wheel 7. Pinion 67, attached to the motor-29 vand gearwheel v68,drive the worm gear? through-a Worin 7a.- Y Y 'Aweather -gortwind vane -23 is `-mounted on an elongated bearing n41 on the post 5 and is rotata'bly `supported Iby a'ball- 30,` bearing on the upper end of, post `5. VA collar 53", provided Witha downwardly extending flange, acts as a water shed for the Ajunction of sleeve 6 and bearing 41.

The windvane is comprised lof two essentially parallel plates 49 and .50 mounted on the'elongated bearing 41 fand adapted 'to be turned -by the wind. Plates 49 and 5i) support .a horizontal bearing sleeve 64 by means of brackets 40 land 60 mounted thereon. An arm, bearing Weight 42,- is .provided to balance theA weight of the fan mechanism.

The .sh-uttering or beam modifying mear-is a is :a wind turbine or fan comprising a metal frame 54 anda hub 55 on which are x'ed a plurality of blades 55. The vane and fan are so disposed with relation to theprojector that, when the projector has rotated to somesuch position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the fan, when rotating or about to rotate, will modify the light beam.

The fan hub 55 is mounted on a 'shaft 57, supported'within sleeve 64, and the shaft carries the rotating parts of a centrifugal brake, as hereinafter described in detail. The blades occupy about one half of the total projected area of the fran', leaving two open sections, each of 'substantially one-quarter of the total area. `The blades 56 are similar to the blades of a windmill, so that the :air current may pass between them and, in

doing so, will rotatethe fan, but they overlap one another so that they beam from the-projector cannot pass through them when they `are posithe weight 58v on the rim overbalances the forceofthe wind against the fan-blades 56 and will prevent the fan from rotating,`because'the .pres- 1 sure-will not be great enough to raise the weight against theY force of gravity. When a predetermined minimum value vof velocity; of Wind is reached, thefan will begin to-revolve. The blades andvopen` spaces of the fantraverse jthe beam projected from the beacon` as the fair revolves, and they thereby produce alternate periods of'light and darkness. The periodicity is `discernible as `a ilickering ofl thelig-ht, the rapidity of flickering indicating the'relative velocity of the'air current. ',y, `r-

VVIn air currents of extreme velocity, as in va storm, the fan Imay rotate ;so rapidly that the flicker is no longer discernible to the-naked eye. In order tok lprevent the fan from running -beyond such critical speed, a centrifugal brake (Figs. 3 and 4) is mounted on the inner Iend of the shaft 57. The brake comprises Weights-'61;-

slidably mounted on pinsf62 radially projecting Y from the shaft 57. Normally, ltheweights will be drawn in toward the center of the shaft by springs 63 vandwill rest against a shaft-bushing 65. YWhen the critical speed is reached,'thecentrifugalforce of the weights will' :overcome the tension-of the springs and they willrfly out against the'brake drum 66 to act as br-ake shoes, thus preventing the fan 'from exceeding the critical speed; It willbe understood that `any other suitablegform of V,brake may be vemployed in lieuof that illustr'ated. ,'v AV f A'I hefan 55a is disposed onthe weathervane, so that it will extend over the light aprture of the projector 14 `and interceptthe light rayfron the projector whenever the projector, infits rotationabout the axis of shaft 5,-Y points in the leeward direction.

It may be easily understood that a wind'current will move the Wind Vane 23 to some such position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The beam of light from projector 14 Will sweep the horizon in the. usualY way but, on` reaching the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the beam is interrupted by the fan 55a and its character is changed. From this change in the character of the beam, the observer is enabled to determine the windk direction in the vicinity of the beacon. It is not necessary thatv the observer be to the leeward of the beacony and thus be directly in the path of the modified beamin order to determine the wind Y direction; but he is enabled to accurately judge the wind direction by watching the beam as it sweeps the horizon. When a change in the characterof the beam occurs in a certain direction, he knows lthat the wind is in that direction.

By means of my device, an observer can not only locate the air-port or other object or location but he can determine the approximate wind direction and wind velocity at the beacon. The rapidity of movement of the fan is proportionate Avto the wind velocity and the speed of .the fanmovement is perceptible to the observer as` a flicker 4varying in frequency with the Awind velocity.

The interference device, in this case the fan blades 56, may be comprisedwholly or in part ofk transparent or translucent matrial, suchv asv ruby or other colored glass, or it mayy be comprised of opaque material'.`

YOf course any beacon rotating mechanism, known to the art, may be utilized. The relative. positions of fan, vane and projector may be changed'. For instance, the fan might bev rlocated to the Windward side of the air vane. Y

I do not Wish to be limited to the ,embodiments of' my invention as shown and described, Vand the suggested modiiications, and any other modiications which may occur to those skilled in the art, may be made without departing from'the spirit and scope of' my invention, as expressed in the appended claims.' j

I claim as my invention: y e 1 1. A beacon for projecting a beam of lightcom-` prising a rotatable projector, means forrotating the projector, a wind-driven screen rotatable relative ,to the projector in two different planes, said screen being rotatable in one of the planes in accordance with the windl velocity in 'the' vicinity of the beacon, and means for rotating vthe screen in accordance with the wind direction in the other plane about the axis of rotationof the projector to position itin the path of the beam of light from the projector as the 'projector is rotated, thereby modifying the light-beam at a frequency proportional to the wind velocity to indicate both wind direction and velocity tofan' observer. v f I 2. A rotatableV beacon for 'projecting a lightbeam so directed as to be swept, by rotation of the beacon, about the axis of rotation of the latter, a device comprising a wind-operable shutics ter mounted for rotation about an axis substanlforl controlling the adjustment of said device.

A"a The' combination with' a rotatable ,nenti beam projector adapted/to so direct the-,beam

that rotationfof thev projectorwill correspond- 4 lingly sweep the beam about the axis of rotation'of the projector, of a wind vane independently'rotatableabout the axis of rotationof the projector, anda wind-drivenV scr'een provided with openings'and rotatably mounted on the wind vane in a-position to intercept-the rotatingv lightbeam inthe leew'arcl direction, thefspe'e'd of ro.-

tation of thes'creen being a functionv ofV the -win'dl velocity atA the beacon thereby modifying the light-beaml at a frequency proportional to the wind velocity to indicate both direction and velocity vto an observerV f 4. The combination with a rotatable lightbeam" projector adaptedto so direct fthe beam that rotation of the projector willi correspondingly sweep the' beam about .theaxis of rotation of the projector, of al vane so'operable by air cur-rents as to be positioned'thereby inaccordance withthe direction of said current's,a screen carried by the wind vane and positioned to .intercept the light-beam when, during its rotation, it is directed in the leewarddirectionsaid screen being provided with alternate light openings and relatively opaque portions, and means for rotating the screen about an axis "substantially at right angles `to and coplanar with' the axis' ofV rotation of said projector in accordance withv the velocity of the air .currents thereby modifying the light-beam by, means of the light openings and relatively opaque portions to indicate both wind direction and velocity to an observer.

5. The combination with a rotatable lightbeam projector having a light source mounted therein and means for rotating said projector as to cause its light-beam to sweep through a predetermined path, of signalling means comprising a vane adapted to be positioned by, and in accordance with the direction of, the air currents impinging thereon, and a wind-driven screen rotatable in accordance with the velocity of the air currents and mounted on and moving with the vane to project over the light aperture of said projector during the portion of its sweep when directed in the leeward direction, the screen being provided with alternate light openings and relatively opaque portions to screen the light at a frequency in accordance with the velocity of the air currents.

6. The combination with a rotatable lightbeam projector having a light source mounted therein and means for so moving said projector as to cause its light-beam to sweep through a predetermined path, of signalling means coni-` in accordance with the direction of, the air currents impinging thereon, and a movable winddriven screen attached to and moving with said vane and adapted to project over the light aperture of said projector during any portion of its sweep, said screen being movable by wind pressure and provided with alternate light openings and relatively opaque portions to screen the light at a frequency in accordancevwith the velocity of the air currents thereby simultaneously affording an indication of both the direction and velocity of the air currents.

7. I'he combination with a rotatable lightbeam projector adapted to so direct the beam that rotation of the projector will correspondingly sweep the beam about the axis of rotation of the projector and means for positively rotating an axis substantially at righty anglesk to and co'- planar,l with thelaxis of` rotation of saidrprojector and carried by saidvane and adapted vtol project over ithe light apertureduring. any por-v tion of itssweep for altering the light-beam; l I 8..A beacon comprising a base, a standard iixed to the basega sleeve rotatably lmounted 'on theilower portion-fof the standard, a light-beam l projector mountedon the sleeve, aisecond sleeve rotatably mounted onv the upper; portion of the standard, an air vane mounted on AVthe second sleeve',I a rotatable shaft carriedfby the air'vane, and a fan mountedv onthe shaft'and disposed to intercept the light-beam.

k9. In combination witha rotatable beacon-having anl upwardly projectingstandard, means for rotating the beacon, a wind vane rotatably mounted on the standard, and a fan rotatably mounted on the vane,-.the.fan'b'eing provided with a plurality of irregularly spaced blades Yand adapted to be actuated by` lwind-pressure 4for modifying the light from the beacon when, during its rotation,: the light-beamcomes `intoiregister with the fan. j i

l0. In combination, airotatable, beam-projecting ,beacon and a screen rotatablyjmounted for movement about thebeacon, means for rotating thei beacon, a windvane operatively'attached-to the'screen for positioning it in accordance,` with the wind direction, said screen comprising a wind turbine the blades of which act both as a means for driving the turbine and for interrupting the beam in accordance with the wind velocity.`

l1. In combination, albeacon and a wind-operable shutter for periodically interrupting the Vlight to indicate wind velocity, and means for preventing operation of the shutter at low wind velocities comp-rising a weight located on the shutter Vin such manner that the weight must be lifted when the shutter becomes operable, the weight acting to prevent operation.

12. In combination, a beacon and a rotatively mounted fan driven by wind pressure for periodically interrupting the light from the beacon to indicate the wind velocity, and means comprising a weight on the edge of the fan for preventing rotation of the fan below a certain minimum wind velocity.A I

13. In combination, a rotatable beacon, means for positively rotating the beacon, a fan rotatably mounted on the beacon and driven by wind pressure for periodically interrupting the light from the beacon to indicate the wind velocity, and means comprising a centrifugal brake mounted on the ian for preventing rotation thereof above a certain maximum speed.

14. In combination, a rotatably mountedproj ector provided withl a source of light and adapted to project a light-beam, means for rotating said projector, and a wind vane positioned in response to air currents and provided with a screen including revolving shutters responsive to the wind velocity, said screen being adapted to rotate with said wind vane and being so disposed as to rotate in the same plane as the rotating projector and between said projector and the majority of the beam projected at any instant and to interrupt the beam at a point determined by the wind directon. v

V15; A beacon for projecting a light-beam comprising, in combination, a beam-projecting means rotating in a constant plane, means for rotating the projecting means, a wind vane, and an independently rotatable screen carried by the wind vane, said screen being responsive to air currents and including shutters rotatableabout an axis positioned substantially at vright, angles to and coplanar with the axis of rotation of said beacon inresponse to windvelocity, said shutters being sodisposed as to progressively vary the intensity of the light of the majority ofthe beam projected aty any instant 'at pointsin the travel of said pro@` jecting means determined'by the vwind direction and in inverse proportion. to the vWind velocity.

16. In combination, a .beam-.projecting beacon rotatable in a constantv plane for transmitting information to an..observer, meansfor rotating the beacon, wind responsive .means revolvable about the axis of rotation of said beacon, and means comprising -a wind-driven shutter rotatable about an axis positionedsubstantially at right angles to andcoplanar with the axis of rotation ofsaid beacon and xed to the revolvable means and havingits path lof travel so determined as to modify the intensity of the light-beam at a point corresponding to the prevailing wind direction, as determined by the. Windresponsive means, and in inverse proportion to the Wind velocity, as determined by the rotatable shutter.

17. A beacon comprising, :in combination, a rotatableprojector for projecting a light-beam ina constant path, means for rotating the projector, wind-directionwesponsive means Vand .a screen attached thereto, said beam being adapted to be partially intercepted by said screen 'during a partV of the travel of said beam,'the screen being provided with shutters rotatable about an axis positionedsubstantially. at right angles,` to and coplanar with the axis of rotation of vsaid beacon by Wind pressure for interrupting the light-beam in vaccordance withthe Wind velocity.

18. A beacon comprising, combination, a rotatable projector forv projecting Aa light-beam in aconstant path,V means for rotating they projector, a wind vane, and awind-driven screen mounted for rotation about an axis substantially at right angles to and coplanar with the axis vo1' .means for rotating the projector, a wind vane independently movable about the axis of yrotation .of said beacon in accordance with wind direction,

and :a Wind-driven screen carried by the. wind vane'and provided With light-interrupting.mem` bers rotatablyVv mounted about a horizontal axis, said light-interrupting members Abeing rotatable at a speed corresponding to wind pressure.

" .OSCARiWERNER 

